The Bottom Line
Director Andrew Davis and writer Ron L Brinkerhoff do everything possible to pay tribute to the brave men and women who actually are Coast Guard's Rescue Swimmers in The Guardian. Davis even went so far as to cast real-life heroes in supporting roles. His committment to keeping things real helps make The Guardian a cut above other films of this genre.
Pros
- Shows great respect for the real men and women rescue swimmers
- Intense water sequences put you right there with the Coast Guard personnel
- Kevin Costner's terrific as the veteran rescuer training the young upstarts
Cons
- A commentary by one or more of the actors would have really made this one special
Description
- Four deleted scenes with optional commentary
- 'The Guardian: Making Waves' - Behind the scenes look at the story and the cast
- 'Unsung Heroes: So Others May Live' - A look at real rescues by Coast Guard heroes
- Alternate Ending (never shown to even preview audiences)
- Commentary by director Andrew Davis and writer Ron L Brinkerhoff
- DVD Release Date: January 23, 2007
Guide Review - "The Guardian" DVD Review
Legendary US Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Ben Randall (Kevin Costner) loses his team when something goes horribly wrong during a rescue mission. To top that off, his wife leaves him. When things can't get much worse, he's given the tough choice by his superior officer to either pack it up and quit or take an instructor position at the USCG training facility. Randall chooses to tackle the instructor position and immediately sets to work putting the pack of new recruits through hell in order to prepare them for the incredibly grueling life of a rescue swimmer.
One recruit in particular catches Randall's eye. Champion swimmer Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher) is tough and cocky, and Randall sees something special in the kid - even though it will take all of his patience to not kick the trainee out of the program for being a pain in the butt.
Mixing training scenes, rescues, and romance - The Guardian takes viewers inside the world of the men and women whose motto is "So Others May Live!"
